Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Yeo Han-koo (Photo: Reuters) During his online meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh on March 23, Yeo said since late 2021, the RoK has conducted internal discussions and prepared procedures to join the CPTPP. He also highly valued the close economic ties between Vietnam and the RoK, saying their trade link reached its peak last year. Welcoming the RoK’s application for the CPTPP membership, Khanh expressed his hope that Vietnam and the RoK will continue their cooperation in relevant areas. The two sides also compared notes on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) which the US is stepping up in an effort to enhance comprehensive economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. They held that relations within the IPEF should base on open, transparent and inclusive standards, and cooperation acceptable to many countries in the region. Launched in De